African violet plant named Susi

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of African violet named Susi, characterized by its single, frilled, mainly white flowers with red-purple centers; strong, upright flower stems that curve toward the center to form a bouquet above the leaves; profuse flowering; vigorous growth habit, flowering 8-9 weeks after potting, and its long-lasting and non-dropping flowers.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Africanviolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Susi.

Susi was discovered by applicant as a mutation of Colorado, disclosed inU.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,266, from a bed of flowering plants of Colorado incommercial greenhouses in Nashville, Tenn. in August 1984. The newcultivar was immediately recognized due to its distinctly differentflower color. Whereas the parent cultivar Colorado has medium darkpurple flower color, the flower color of Susi is mainly white with alarge center showing of red-purple.

Subsequent asexual reproduction of Susi by me in Nashville, Tenn. hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction. Propagation has also confirmed thatSusi is similar in all essential respects to Colorado except for itsdistinctly different flower color.

Susi has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment suchas temperature, light intensity and day length. The followingobservations, measurements and values describe the new cultivar as grownin Nashville, Tenn. under greenhouse conditions which closelyapproximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Susi which in combination distinguish thisAfrican violet as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Strong upright flower stems curving toward the center.

(2) First flash of flowers form a tight bouquet above the leaves.

(3) Long blooming period.

(4) Profuse flowering on long stems.

(5) Each plant carries up to 8 and more upright flower stems, each ofwhich carries 7-9 flowers.

(6) Vigorous grower, compact habit.

(7) Plant saleable 9-10 weeks after potting.

(8) Medium green velvet leaves, slightly hairy.

(9) Long-lasting, non-dropping single flowers.

(10) Seed capsule pushes slightly through.

(11) After maturity the flowers dry off, and remain on the pedunclewithout being infected by botrytis.

(12) Medium size flowers with frilled edges, white with purplish-redcenter.

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows a typical specimenplant of the new cultivar. The colors appearing in the photograph are astrue as possible with color illustrations of this type.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), except where general colorsof ordinary significance are referred to. Color values were taken undernatural sunlight conditions at approximately 2:00 p.m. in Nashville,Tenn.

Botanical classification: Saintpaulia ionantha, Ramat., cv. Susi.

Parentage: Mutation of Colorado.

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by leaf cuttings.

Plant: From 7 cm to 10 cm tall when grown in pots, and approximately23-25 cm in diameter when fully grown.

Leaves.--General form: Oval. Diameter: 45-65 mm. Texture: Soft andhairy. Aspect: Velvety, slightly hairy. Veins: Underside wellpronounced, light green, shiny. Color (upper side): Green Group 137B.Color (under side): Green Group 138D. Petiole: Strong, upright, lightgreen, hairy.

Flowers.--Buds: Ball-shaped 7-9 mm before opening, partly greenish andpartly purplish in color. Sepals: Five (5) spear-shaped, 2 small, 3larger, hairy. Color: Dark brown. Calyx: Shape: Funnel-shaped. Aspect:Spear-shaped, hairy. Peduncle: Character: Strong, upright, wire-like,hairy. Color: Brownish. Individual flowers: Size: 32-38 mm. Shape:Single, violet-shaped, heavily frilled edges. Color (upper side): Whitewith red-purple 74A center, and radiating outwardly from the center,frequently to an area leaving approximately a 1/4 inch band of white onthe periphery of the flower. Color (under side): White with 74C. Borne:Each flower stem carries 7-9 flowers on strong, upright wire-likepeduncles, producing a tight bouquet above the leaves. Flowering habit:Flowers 8-9 weeks after potting.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: 2. Anthers: 2 filaments with four anthercells. Filaments: 4 mm long, purplish yellow in color. Pollen color:Yellow Group 7A. Styles: 4-5 mm, dark purple with a light green base.Roots: Normally developed, white when young, turning slightly brownishwhen older.

Disease resistance: Good.

General observations: Susi is a mutation out of Colorado having whiteflowers with red-purple centers and attractive velvet, medium greenleaves. Susi is a vigorous and profuse cultivar. Out of the center, 8and more strong flower stems appear that are slightly bent toward thecenter, each carrying 7-9, and more single, frilled flowers. The fullydeveloped flower head has a compact habit, forming a nice bouquet.Approximately 8-9 weeks after potting, the plant is saleable. Theflowers are long-lasting and non-dropping and the seed capsule pushesslightly through. In general, as the buds open, the outer edge of thewhite margin is temporarily light greenish.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of African violet named Susi, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized by its single, frilled, mainly white flowers with red-purple centers; strong, upright flower stems that curve toward the center to form a bouquet above the leaves; profuse flowering; vigorous growth habit, flowering 8-9 weeks after potting, and its long-lasting and non-dropping flowers. 